Isomorphism types of Aronszajn trees

We study the isomorphism types of Aronszajn trees of height ω₁ and give diverse results on this question (mainly consistency results). The second author would like to thank the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation for partially supporting this research by a grant.     

On a problem inspired by determinacy

In this paper, we construct a modelN in which ℵ₁, the only regular uncountable cardinal, is measurable via the club filter. Thus,N is a model for the theory “ZF+κ is regular iffκ is measurable”. This research in this paper was partially supported by NSF Grant DMS-8413736.     

Some new upper bounds in consistency strength for certain choiceless large cardinal patterns

Summary In this paper, we show that certain choiceless models of ZF originally constructed using an almost huge cardinal can be constructed using cardinals strictly weaker in consistency strength.The research for this paper was partially supported by NSF Grant DMS-8616774. In addition, the author would like to thank the referee for comments which considerably helped improve the presentation of the material of this paper     

A cardinal defined by a polarized partition relation

We study the first cardinalκ satisfying a partition relation defined on the set of finite sequences of smaller ordinals. We show that the fact that this cardinal is ℵ_ω is equiconsistent with the existence of a measurable cardinal. Under GCH, this cardinal must be inaccessible if it has uncountable cofinality. It is shown that the GCH assumption is necessary here.     

On Jónsson cardinals with uncountable cofinality

For a regular cardinal κ a Jónsson model of size κ⁺ is presented. We notice that every singular Jónsson cardinal κ with uncountable cofinality is the limit of some continuous sequence of smaller Jónsson cardinals. An analogous statement holds if κ is an inaccessible Jónsson cardinal unless κ is Mahlo. But we prove that the first Mahlo cardinal cannot be Jónsson. Some additional remarks are included.     

Gently killing S-spaces

We produce a model of ZFC in which there are no locally compact first countable S-spaces, and in which 2^ℵ ₀<2^ℵ ₁. A consequence of this is that in this model there are no locally compact, separable, hereditarily normal spaces of size ℵ₁, answering a question of the second author [9]. The first author would like to thank The Hebrew University of Jerusalem for their support while the research in this paper was being carried out. The research of the second author was partially supported by NSF Grant DMS-9322613. The research of the third author was partially supported by NSF grant DMS-9704477 and the Israel Science Foundation founded by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. This is publication number 690 in the list of the third author.     

Exponents of someN-compact spaces

For any topological spaceT, S. Mrówka has defined Exp (T) to be the smallest cardinal κ (if any such cardinals exist) such thatT can be embedded as a closed subset of the productN ^κ of κ copies ofN (the discrete space of cardinality ℵ₀). We prove that forQ, the space of the rationals with the inherited topology, Exp (Q) is equal to a certain covering number, and we show that by modifying some earlier work of ours it can be seen that it is consistent with the usual axioms of set theory including the choice that this number equal any uncountable regular cardinal less than or equal to 2^ℵ ₀. Mrówka has also defined and studied the class ℳ={κ: Exp (N _κ)=κ} whereN _κ is the discrete space of cardinality κ. It is known that the first cardinal not in ℳ must not only be inaccessible but cannot even belong to any of the first ω Mahlo classes. However, it is not known whether every cardinal below 2^ℵ ₀ is contained in ℳ. We prove that if there exists a maximal family of almost-disjoint subsets ofN of cardinality κ, then κ∈ℳ, and we then use earlier work to prove that if it is consistent that there exist cardinals which are not in the first ω Mahlo classes, then it is consistent that there exist such cardinals below 2^ℵ ₀ and that ℳ nevertheless contain all cardinals no greater than 2^ℵ ₀. Finally, we consider the relationship between ℳ and certain “large cardinals”, and we prove, for example, that if μ is any normal measure on a measurable cardinal, then μ(ℳ)=0.     

On strongly-non-reflexive groups

A strong negative answer is given to the old question of whether every dual group is reflexive. Using ◊_ω1 a groupA is constructed so thatA, A*, A**, andA*** are weakly ω₁-separable groups of cardinalityω ₁ andA* is not isomorphic toA***. Research partially supported by NSF Grant No. DMS-8400451. Research partially supported by NSERC Grant No. A8948.     

Whitehead groups may not be free even assuming ch,II

We prove some theorems on uncountable abelian groups, and consistency results promised in the first part, and also that a variant of called ♣ (club), is consistent with 2^{ℵ 0}<ℵ₁. The author would like to thank the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation for Grant 1110 and the NSF for Grant MCS-08479.     

On the consistency strength of the proper forcing axiom

In recent work, the second author extended combinatorial principles due to Jech and Magidor that characterize certain large cardinal properties so that they can also hold true for small cardinals. For inaccessible cardinals, these modifications have no effect, and the resulting principles still give the same characterization of large cardinals. We prove that the proper forcing axiom PFA implies these principles hold for ω₂. Using this, we argue to show that any of the known methods for forcing models of PFA from a large cardinal assumption requires a strongly compact cardinal. If one forces PFA using a proper forcing, then we get the optimal result that a supercompact cardinal is necessary.     

Iterated forcing and normal ideals onω 1

We prove that suitable iteration does not collapse ℵ₁ [and does not add reals], i.e., that in such iteration, certain sealing of maximal antichains of stationary subsets ofω ₁ is allowed. As an application, e.g., we prove from supercompact hypotheses, mainly, the consistency of: ZFC + GCH + “for some stationary setS ⊆ω ₁, {ie345-1}(ω ₁)/(D ω ₁ +S) is the Levy algebra” (i.e., the complete Boolean Algebra corresponding to the Levy collapse Levy (ℵ₀,<ℵ₂) (and we can add “a variant of PFA”) and the consistency of the same, with “Ulam property” replacing “Levy algebra”). The paper assumes no specialized knowledge (if you agree to believe in the semi-properness iteration theorem and RCS iteration). This research was partially supported by the NSF. This paper was largely written during the author’s visit at Cal Tech around the end of April 1985. The author would like to thank M. Foreman, A. Kekris and H. Woodin for their hospitality.     

The extent of strength in the club filters

In this paper we consider whether the minimal normal filter onP _κλ, the club filter, can have strong properties like saturation, pre-saturation, or cardinal preserving. We prove in a number of cases that the answer is no. In the case of saturation, Foreman and Magidor prove the answer is always no (except in the caseκ =λ = ℵ₁—and in this case saturation is known to be consistent). The first author was partially supported by NSF grant DMS-9626212.     

The consistency strength of “every stationary set reflects”

The consistency strength of a regular cardinal so that every stationary set reflects is the same as that of a regular cardinal with a normal idealI so that everyI-positive set reflects in aI-positive set. We call such a cardinal areflection cardinal and such an ideal areflection ideal. The consistency strength is also the same as the existence of a regular cardinal κ so that every κ-free (abelian) group is κ⁺-free. In L, the first reflection cardinal is greater than the first greatly Mahlo cardinal and less than the first weakly compact cardinal (if any). Research supported by NSERC grant # A8948. Publication # 367. Research partially supported by the BSF.     

Some remarks on a question of D. H. Fremlin regarding ε-density

We show the relative consistency of ℵ₁ satisfying a combinatorial property considered by David Fremlin (in the question DU from his list) in certain choiceless inner models. This is demonstrated by first proving the property is true for Ramsey cardinals. In contrast, we show that in ZFC, no cardinal of uncountable cofinality can satisfy a similar, stronger property. The questions considered by D. H. Fremlin are if families of finite subsets of ω₁ satisfying a certain density condition necessarily contain all finite subsets of an infinite subset of ω₁, and specifically if this and a stronger property hold under MA + ?CH. Towards this we show that if MA + ?CH holds, then for every family ? of ℵ₁ many infinite subsets of ω₁, one can find a family ? of finite subsets of ω₁ which is dense in Fremlins sense, and does not contain all finite subsets of any set in ?. We then pose some open problems related to the question. Received: 2 June 1999 / Revised version: 2 February 2000 / Published online: 18 July 2001     

On the structure of stationary sets

We isolate several classes of stationary sets of [k]ωand investigate implications among them. Under a large cardinal assumption, we prove a structure theorem for stationary sets.     

Two to one images and PFA

We prove that all maps onN ^* that are exactly two to one are trivial if PFA is assumed. This article was considerably improved by the careful referee's reports. Supported by NSF grant DMS-0103985.     

Indexed squares

We study some combinatorial principles intermediate between square and weak square. We construct models which distinguish various square principles, and show that a strengthened form of weak square holds in the Prikry model. Jensen proved that a large cardinal property slightly stronger than 1-extendibility is incompatible with square; we prove this is close to optimal by showing that 1-extendibility is compatible with square. First author partially supported by NSF grants DMS-9703945 and DMS-0070549. Second author partially supported by NSF Grants DMS-9305990, DMS-9712580, DMS-9996280 and DMS-0088948.     

Brauer groups are not characterized by Ulm invariants

Two important invariants of a fieldF are its Brauer groupB(F) and its character groupX(F). IfF is countable, these are countable abelian torsion groups, and so are determined by their Ulm invariants. We show here that Ulm’s invariants do not determine Brauer groups or character groups of uncountable fields. An essential tool, which is entirely group theoretic in nature, is a fact about ultraproducts of torsion groups. Supported in part by NSF Grant No. DMS-8500883. Supported in part by NSA Grant No. MDA904-85-H-0014. Supported in part by NSF Grant No. DMS-8500929.     

Coloring complexes and arrangements

Steingrimsson’s coloring complex and Jonsson’s unipolar complex are interpreted in terms of hyperplane arrangements. This viewpoint leads to short proofs that all coloring complexes and a large class of unipolar complexes have convex ear decompositions. These convex ear decompositions impose strong new restrictions on the chromatic polynomials of all finite graphs. Similar results are obtained for characteristic polynomials of submatroids of type ℬ _n arrangements. The first author was supported by NSF grant DMS-0500638. The second author was supported by NSF grant DMS-0245623.     

Liftings for Haar measure on {0,1} k

We callE ⊆ {0,1} ^k projective if for some countableA ⊆κ there is anE _A ⊆ {0, 1} ^A such thatE=E _A ×{0,1} ^k\A andE _A is a projective subset of the Cantor set {0, 1} ^A . We construct a model where Haar measure on {0,1} ^k has no projective lifting (and in particular no Baire lifting) for anyκ≥ω. Research partially supported by NATO Science Fellowship. The first author would like to thank the Mathematics Department at the University of Essex for its hospitality during the academic year 1988/89 while part of this research was being carried out. This research was initiated while the second author was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto. Its completion was supported by NSF grant DMS-8505550.